2 Russian planes fly to Syria to pick up citizens

Russia on Tuesday sent two planes to Syria to pick up Russians wanting to leave the conflict-torn country as the navy dispatched four warships to the Mediterranean reportedly for a possible larger evacuation.

Moscow, which unlike other world powers still keeps close ties with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, also announced it would host Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem for talks on the crisis next week.

Two emergencies ministry planes carrying humanitarian aid landed in the Syrian port city of Latakia after flying from Moscow and would take back any Russians wanting to leave on their return trip, the ministry said.

Meanwhile the defense ministry said Russia is sending four more warships to the Mediterranean Sea to join an escort ship and smaller vessels that are already on duty in the region.

The defense ministry said in a statement to Russian news agencies that the ships would be on "military service" but gave no further details.

But a military source quoted by RIA Novosti said their main task could be taking part in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria.

"Even though the tasks of the warships have not been announced, it can be assumed that given the development of the situation in the region their main job will be taking part in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria," said the source.

The Russian emergencies ministry Ilyushin-62 and Ilyushin-76 planes were carrying over 40 tons of humanitarian aid and would be ready to evacuate Russians from the country, a ministry statement said.

The aid consists of electrical equipment, bedding, tents as well as foodstuffs.

"Citizens of Russia and the (ex-Soviet grouping) CIS wanting to leave can leave Syria on these planes," the ministry said, adding that the departure from Latakia back to Moscow was planned for later Tuesday.

It said a hotline had been set up for Russians who were thinking of leaving Syria, with psychologists on hand to take the calls.

With the conflict still intensifying, hundreds of troops backed by military vehicles poured into the northern province of Aleppo on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The deployment follows unexpected advances by the rebels in their thrust to seize control of air bases in northern Syria and to capture Aleppo's international airport.

Fighting between rebels and troops also erupted Tuesday in southern Damascus, where the army deployed reinforcements in a bid to drive insurgents out of belts surrounding the capital, the Observatory said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said Muallem will be in Moscow on February 25 but added that no date had yet been set for separate talks with the Syrian opposition.

AFP

You might also like：

Syria stance not a 180: experts
Now Those Colombian Prostitutes Were Russian Spies Or Something
Russian constructions in Harbin: they came, they conquered
Chinese citizens were arrested by Russian poicemen
Beijing 'open' to conference on Syria
无觅
Read More @ Source



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 10 nude models in China

Image
Nudity in art and nude modeling were introduced into China almost one century ago. When famed Chinese painter Liu Haisu became the first to initiate a figure drawing course at a Shanghai art school in 1917, he immediately triggered public uproar and widespread controversy in regards to nude modeling. Since then, China has become much more open to nude modeling, especially when we think back on the 1928 slashing of a nude model by her father for posing for internationally renowned Chinese photographer Lang Jingshan who took the country's first artistic nude shot . However, even though the Chinese have gotten more at ease with the idea of modeling in the nude since 1928, it still remains quite the controversial career path to take in China. Every time some nude picture appears, the public nudity debate gets stirred up again and sometimes violence may even ensue. Some think that it's shameful and the models just get naked for the so-called sake of art to make easy-money and ...
Keep reading

From waste leather to drug capsules: Toxic gelatin factory exposed in Hebei

Image
The latest item on the toxic food list in China is drug capsules made of industrial gelatin extracted from bleached waste leathers. Such capsules can cause cancer due to high level of chromium resulting from leather tanning processing. As of now, China has banned the sale of 13 drugs and arrested 22 for allegedly making and selling capsules made from discarded leather. Below are pictures from Xue Yang Ming Gelatin Protein Factory in Hengshui, Hebei Pronvice. The factory was reported to sell waste leather gelatin to drug capsule manufacturers in Zhejiang Province. Waste leather, aka, “blue leather” “Blue leathers” soaked for days so that they are “white” and puffed up Soaking plates for waster leather Brewing facilities Warehouse Waste leather stocks Waste water from the factory The head of the factory has already been arrested and workshops shut down China media: Boao and Taiwan China's Li Keqiang has exchanged good wishes with Taiwan's Wu Den-yih Monday's newspapers repo...
Keep reading

China raises rare earth exports

Image
18 May 2012 Last updated at 00:00 ET China said 10,680 tonnes would be added to the quota on top of 10,546 tonnes initially issued China has allowed more companies to export rare earths, increasing the quotas set by the government, after they met environment standards. It has increased rare earth export quotas by 10,680 tonnes, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. The announcement brings the total quotas issued so far this year to 21,226 tonnes. Rare earths are a collection of 17 elements used in products from smartphones to hybrid cars. China, the biggest miner of rare earths, capped exports at 30,184 tonnes last year. It said the quotas were designed to conserve resources and protect the environment. Beijing is embroiled in trade disputes with the US, Japan and the European Union over its control of rare earths. However, only about half of last year's quota was used, according to the ministry. China normally allocates rare earth resources in two s...
Keep reading